Infrared thermometer gun

Recommend one to me. Im in the market thinking about buying one this weekend Amazon is my go to place give some reviews the good the bad the ugly.

 

I have Raytek that is 8 years old or so. It has suited me fine. It seems to be accurate when I have something to compare it to. I think I paid <$30 for it back then. The things to look at are the temp range, the reading radius and if you want a red dot pointer. I think mine tops out at 600 degrees, but I was buying it for brewing and not thinking of using it on my stove at that time. I know I can error it on a hot fire.

 

I bought a HF. I point it in the sky to see -35f in the Summer. But it worked on my engine +129`

 

Paul you brought up some good points that I hadnt thought about looking for. Ill start my research today and see what I can find.

 

I have a Ryobi and another one..can't remember the brand. The only complaint on the Ryobi is the screen doesn't light up like my other one. That's a feature you definitely want...at least I do.

 

Well I havent been able to spend much time searching for these but I do appreciate all the advice Im going to take my time and make sure I get a good one Im going to look at the ones that yall have recommended.

 

Have the harbor freight one, temp range up to about 1000 deg. Some do not go that high. so in your search check that out. Cruising range for a lot of stoves is in the 550 + area so a unit with 600 deg top isn't of much use for stove work.

 

I have this one. Works great

http://www.amazon.com/Mastercool-MS...=8-1&keywords=mastercool+infrared+thermometer

 

Ditto on the Harbor Freight one. I've had it for one year and still working great.

 

This is the one I got, seems to work great for a great price.

http://www.amazon.com/BAFX-Products...83229700&sr=8-4&keywords=Infrared+thermometer

 

Well I bought this one http://www.amazon.com/Neiko-Infrare...92&sr=8-1&keywords=neiko+infrared+thermometer
So far it seems to be pretty good it came with a battery and a carry case. I would like to know how to calibrate it the directions arent very clear but Im going to keep messing with it and try to find a calibration guide for it. Overall Im happy with it Ill post an update to it in another week or two.

 

I've had that unit for about a year, seems to work fairly well. Not sure how/if you can calibrate it. Glass of iced tea is 33, pot with boiling water is 210, dog is 95, cat is 85 but he is older than dirt and about dead so I don't think that counts.

 

It does have an adjustable emissivity. I dont know what that is or does. One problem Im having with it right now is that Ill aim it at the stove and it will start at say 330* then go down to 280* then up and down its kind of all over the place. Im still playing with it the directions that came with it are a little vague so Ill have to do some Google-fu and see if I can come up with some more definite answers. I did scan it across a brand new thermometer and it was within 1* but when I scanned it across my stove top thermometer there was around a 60* difference.